Former Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari
Former Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari is dead. He died in London on Sunday afternoon, according to a statement issued by Shehu Garba, his former spokesperson on behalf of his family.
Also, a former aide of the late President, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed his passage in a post on his X handle..
He said “The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London.
May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus. Amin.”
There have been speculations in the media in the past few days that the former President was ill and was on admission at a healthcare facility in London.
Vice President Kashim Shetimma had reportedly visited the former president in London few days ago.
Born on 17 December 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria, the late President had his primary education in Daura and Mai’Adua, and graduated in 1953. He had his secondary education at Katsina Middle School from 1956 to 1961.
He joined the military as a 19 years old boy in 1962 and was trained at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and attended the Platoon Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna, Kaduna State, from November 1963 to January 1964.
From 1965 to 1967, he served as commander of the Second Infantry Battalion and was appointed brigade major of the Second Sector, First Infantry Division from April 1967 to July 1967.
Buhari also participated actively in the Nigeria’s civil war and after the war, he was appointed to various command positions in the Nigerian Army, Buhari was appointed the Governor of the defunct North Central State following the the 1975 military coup d’état that led to the exit of former Yakubu Gowon from office.
Buhari was also appointed Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources In March 1976, following the botched 1976 military coup d’état attempt which led to the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed.
When the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was created in 1977, Buhari was appointed as its chairman, a position he held until 1978. Buhari was Military Secretary at the Army Headquarters and a member of the Supreme Military Council from 1978 to 1979. From 1979 to 1980.
He was General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division: August 1980 – January 1981 and General Officer Commanding, 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division from January 1981 – October 1981. He also served as General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armed Division from October 1981 to December 1983
He was appointed Nigeria’s head of state after the overthrow of the military administration of Shehu Shagari in December 1983 during which he was known for his tough stand against corruption. He was overthrew by another military junta led by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1985.
Buhari contested to return as Nigeria’s civilian president without success from 2003 to 2011. However, he was finally elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019.
He handed over power to President Bola Tinubu at the end of his eight year tenure on 29, May, 2023.
